Civil War comes to life at German Flatts Town Park

The weapons the Union troops and the Confederate rebels brought with them on the battlefield were on display at the German Flatts Town Park on Friday.

Cpl. Austin Anna, with the 5th New York Volunteers Light Artillery Battery re-enactor group, showed visitors some of the Civil War era weapons, which included a Calvary saber, a cartridge box and an 1858 Remington.

By Stephanie Sorrell-White

The Times

By Stephanie Sorrell-White

Posted Sep. 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 28, 2012 at 9:04 PM

By Stephanie Sorrell-White

Posted Sep. 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 28, 2012 at 9:04 PM

Mohawk, N.Y.

The weapons the Union troops and the Confederate rebels brought with them on the battlefield were on display at the German Flatts Town Park on Friday.

Cpl. Austin Anna, with the 5th New York Volunteers Light Artillery Battery re-enactor group, showed visitors some of the Civil War era weapons, which included a Calvary saber, a cartridge box and an 1858 Remington.

“A lot of them had Remingtons,” said one of the re-enactors on the field. “Some of them had Colts.”

This was part of the 13th annual Living History Weekend, which kicked off Friday at the town park. The event is taking place nearly two weeks after the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, the single bloodiest day of battle from the Civil War.

Friday’s event included stations for visitors to learn more about Civil War history, including one which featured a re-enactor as Abraham Lincoln.

“[You] always have to be able to see the things that you learned about in books, and to see it in actuality,” said Michaela Germand, of Fairfield, who attended the event with three of the boys she is homeschooling.

Germand’s sons checked out some of the weapons on display, including Caelan Germand who learned about one of the cannons. Everett Reynolds, also of the 5th New York Volunteers, said the cannon was made in 1841 and that its wheels weigh about 300 pounds each.

Lt. Bessie Reynolds, also with the re-enactor group, said she hopes people leave with the knowledge of how important the Civil War is in American history.

“The Civil War really changed [America] and what it is today,” said Reynolds, also with the same regiment. “If the South had won, we would still have slavery.”

Besides homeschooled children, Mount Markham and BOCES students also attended the event.

Living History Weekend will continue today and Sunday. The park is next to the Fort Herkimer Church on Route 5S. There will be re-enactments by soldiers, the firing of cannons, meals with soldiers and fireworks. The event is free to the public. There will also be the Adam Helmer 5K Run and Walk on Sunday, with all events finishing at the park.